6- Just A Proposal

Isra was in her home, running after Zain with a scowl, furious that he ate the last chocolate she saved for herself.

"Come back here, Zain!" She shouted, coming after him, he was on the other side of the couch, yelling.

"This woman is mad! You can get another one, stop chasing me!"

He moved and turned running away as two adults acted like kids.

"Who was supposed to get it?!"

"I will get you, Calm down woman, you're going to kill me!" He panted entering their parents' room, breathing heavily,

"What the hell are you two going?" Mr Bukhari asked, looking at the two frantic figures in front of him.

"Dad, she has gone mad." Zain said.

She gasped, "You piece of shit! You are the one who ate my chocolate!"

"And I am saying, I can get you another one!"

"I want it now!"

"It was in the fridge for a week and when I ate you wanted it!" They began to bicker at each other.

Mr Bukhari sighed at their children who even ruined their peace of mind by their meaningless argument.

"Both of you, Get out and keep your voices down!" Mrs Bukhari shouted, noticing there's a call coming from Mrs Ahmed.

The children immediately stopped, shutting their lips before their Mother's wrath and going quietly out of the room.

"You better leave and get me one." She hissed when they came out.

"Okay, okay. Damn witch." He muttered and left, taking his wallet and bike keys.

Isra sighed, finally letting out a wide smile, relaxed and sat in the lounge, watching TV.

In the room Hania was talking to Mrs Bukhari, Aima, "Is everything okay, Hania?"

Aima asked, perplexed and worried about calling at night.

"Everything is fine, I just can't control myself to share this with you!" Hania beamed, barely able to control her grin.

"What happened?" Aima asked.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm her mind, Hania began to say, "Listen, Aima. You know... we are looking for girls for Emraz."

Aima chuckled, "Yeah, and we didn't choose anyone."

"Yeah. but now, he finally agreed for one."

"Really!? Congratulations! Who is she?" Aima asked excitedly.

"Aima, if you don't mind... Can we come to your place this Sunday?" Hania paused, exhaling deeply, smiling widely.

"Sure, you can but who is the girl?" Aima asked and then Hania completed her sentence.

"To ask your Isra's hand in marriage for our Emraz."

The ecstatic expression on Aima's face vanished.

Bewilderment arose, trying to comprehend her words, unsure whether the words which reached her ears were right or wrong.

Blinking continuously to pursue what just happened.

"Aima...?" Hania called, her enthusiasm became tension by her lack of response.

"Um.. It's it too sudden, Hania?" She asked.

"We are not asking to get married. We just want to come and talk about it. Why not leave it to the decision of our kids?" Hania suggested, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I see.. Uh.. Can I talk to you later, after discussing it with Isra, Zain and Amir?" She asked nervously.

"Yeah, sure. I shall wait for your reply." She said happily.

"Bye."

"Bye."

After the call Amia sighed deeply, holding her forehead, making a dismayed face, "What happened, Aima?" Her husband Amir asked.

"Amir, Hania called... she wanted to come to our place for Emraz's marriage proposal." She said hurriedly, straightening her back and looking at him nervously.

He listened and nodded in response after a while.

"What should I tell her? There are obviously so many differences between them and us. Moreover he is her Boss. I don't understand what is happening."

She sighed, holding her forehead in anxiety.

"Hmm. I think we should let them come, I mean it's just a meeting. If our Isra agreed, then why not and if she doesn't then leave it." He smiled, taking her hand to ease her tension.

"But, It doesn't feel right."

"Aima, I have seen Emraz, he is truly a gentleman."

"I know, but-"

"Then what is it, dear?" He asked, softly. "I don't know, I am having a bad feeling about it." She sighed.

"I can understand. Why don't we talk to Isra?" He suggested.

"I think so." She bit her lips, nodding.

"Let's go." He smiled, getting out.

"Are you fine with it?" She asked. He stopped and turned to her.

"As long as everyone is, I don't have any problem. We have known them for years and Emraz will keep her happy." He explained, going out.

The elderly couple went to the lounge and saw their kids eating chocolate while talking and laughing.

"Wassup, kids?" Amir chuckled, sitting on the couch, followed by Aima.

"Nothing much, your daughter made me go to the general store at this hour." Zain frowned.

"Ah, leave it." Isra chuckled, eating her chocolate.

"Isra, we need to talk to you about something." Amir's voice became stern.

"Your voice says, someone asks for my marriage, who is it? If it's Farhan, reject them instantly, I would never marry him." She told them casually.

Zain laughed, "Yeah, for it, she even made Rayan her fake boyfriend."

"Fake boyfriend?" Aima asked.

"Yeah." She hummed.

"Doesn't Emraz know about it?" She asked again.

"Of course, In fact, Aunt was the one who helped me convince Rayan."

"I am telling you Mama, she has the special power of convincing Rayan." Zain said.

"Now you mentioned it. Damn right. You guys won't believe it. Now that I think about it, Rayan fulfilled my every request, one way or another, he does everything I say."

Isra laughed a little, "Yeah, take out the method." Zain mocked. Isra clicked her tongue at him.

"Anyways, what were you saying, Dad?" She asked, turning her face to him, smiling.

Clearing his throat Amir said firmly, "Yeah someone called for but for Farhan rather..."

Amir paused, swallowing hard before telling her.

"Strange. Then from whom? I can't think of anyone." She mused.

"Maybe a mental asylum." Zain teased.

"Very funny."

"For Emraz Khan."

Silence.

Dead silence fell upon the room when these words escaped Amir's lips.

Everyone was lost in their own unfathomable thoughts which are stirring their mind in the absence of sound, trying to make these words properly.

"Come again?" Isra asked, thinking she heard him wrong.

"Ahmed Family wants to come here for your proposal.. For their son Emraz."

Her eyes widened in staggered, heart abruptly began to beat feral in her chest, knocking upon undesirable sensations of consternation.

"Emraz bhai? Like for real?" Zain asked in disbelief.

"Yes."

"I think that's great. You know him, Isra. He is one of a kind." Zain encouraged, elated about this proposal while Isra only licked her lips.

Looking down, not showing a response. Her hands and feet turned cold in nervousness. It was the flutter, roaming wildly in her body.

"Isra..." Amir called, shaking her shoulder to drag her out from her thoughts and give a verbal response.

With a hitched breath, her voice came out like a screech, "Huh?"

"What happened, my love? Don't you want it?" Aima asked.

"No, Mama... it's just too sudden. I never thought he would think of me in a romantic context. It was all just... too much for me to wrap my head around." She explained, running her hand in her hair.

"You don't want it?" Amir asked seriously.

"I don't know." She replied truthfully. His Brother? She thought.

"They want to come on the weekend, why don't you make up your mind after that? If you are fine or not." Aima suggested.

"Hmm... I don't. I need time to think." She sighed, getting up.

"Sure, I will call them." Aima smiled.

"No, let them come. I just want to think for myself." She said and went to her room, not before earning a consolation from her Parents.

"If that's what you want..."

Isra was in her room, pacing around anxiously, not knowing what to do or say, only feeling the thumping heartbeat.

Signaling her to put a halt on this allusion but she knows things are much more than that and what's considered frivolous at a point-

Or at least for him, it was truly nerve-wracking for her.

Lost in disquiet, she didn't notice Zain coming inside and calling her softly.

"Isra." Gasping, she turned to him.

"Are you alright?" He asked, concerned about his sister.

"I guess." She exhaled, sitting on the couch.

"If you don't want this, it's okay. No one is going to force you." He assured her, squeezing her shoulder in assurance. She returned a faint smile, nodding a little, "I know."

"Then what is it?" He asked, sitting beside her.

"Zain, the thing is... I never thought of all the people it would be him. You know I didn't know him before coming to work, just like Rayan's big bro but never met him and ever since then.”

“I have never called his name. It's either Boss or Sir. Okay, I get it we get along well but what if he likes me for a while? I don't know what is happening."

She explained her reason for unnerving thoughts but it was tentative for him to grasp.

‘He even let this happen?’

Why would he stop them in the first place? Her thoughts perturbed her more.

"So, him being your Boss is your problem?" He asked.

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"If you are unsure, then why not talk it out with him and we will see whether it's fine or not?" He suggested with a smile.

"I think you are right. We should talk before doing anything." She hummed in response.

"Okay then, take care and if you need anything, tell me." He grinned, patting her head.

"Night." She smiled. He just waved and left.

After she left, she fell back, stretching her arms out, staring at the ceiling aimlessly to provide her vivid imagination and striking thoughts serenity by her chant-

‘Calm down Isra, It's just a proposal.’